MacRumors

Apple will make health record data available to third-party apps on iOS devices, beginning this fall. The data, which will require user permission to access, will be kept private and entirely off of Apple's servers. But it could dramatically expand usefulness of health-focused apps on the platform.

Earlier this year, Apple launched a Health Records service to increase the portability of health records and make them available across participating hospitals and clinics. The idea was to allow patients to download their health records to iOS devices and then easily share them with other practitioners.

The new Health Records API would allow certain parts of user health records to be accessed by apps, with data flowing directly from iPhones and iPads to the apps, with no user health data ever flowing to Apple's servers.

Apple listed a number of examples for this service, showcasing the potential for the iPhone to literally save lives — something that Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly referred to in the past.

• Medisafe, which helps users remember when to take their medication, will connect with Health Records so user's prescription drugs can be transferred to the app without manual entry. This will make creating medication reminders easier, and could warn patients of drug interactions because the entire medication roster will (theoretically) be listed in-app.




• Diabetes-management apps could access lab results and combine them with eating and exercise data to help users better manage their disease.




• A healthy eating app could custom-design meal plans based on cholesterol or blood pressure data.




• "With the new Health Records API, doctors can integrate patient medical data into their ResearchKit study apps for a more complete view of their participants’ health background.

Apple has been working for years to better organize health data and to assist users in being healthier. Tim Cook, a fitness and health enthusiast himself, has discussed the potential of Apple's devices to help users get healthier on numerous occasions — and Apple's own health-focused aspirations have been documented for more than a half-decade.

During its WWDC keynote earlier today, Apple took a moment to celebrate the upcoming tenth anniversary of the iOS App Store, which opened to the world in July 2008. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that this week the App Store will hit its next major milestone: the money that developers have earned through the App Store will exceed $100 billion.

In total, Cook mentioned that there are more than 20 million registered third-party developers, and more than 500 million customers visiting the storefront on iPhone and iPad every week. Cook went on to say that over the past ten years, the App Store has enabled "countless new companies" and created "tens of millions of new jobs."

"This is beyond remarkable. The App Store is clearly the best place for you to be rewarded for your hard work and creativity."

In iOS 11, Apple overhauled the App Store with an all-new look that introduced editorialized content that points readers towards new apps and games each day. Next, Apple is bringing a similar visual update to the Mac App Store in macOS Mojave later in 2018.

There were plenty of other announcements that came out of Apple's WWDC keynote today, so be sure to head over to our recap post to catch up with the latest stories.

Where is the AirPower? That's the question on the minds of many Apple Watch and iPhone owners as yet another event passes by without a launch date for the accessory.

Apple executives made no mention of the AirPower on stage at this year's keynote, dashing hopes that a launch date for the device might come alongside the unveiling of iOS 12, macOS Mojave, tvOS 12, and watchOS 5. It's not a huge surprise, though, as WWDC is a developer focused conference that puts software first.

In past years, Apple has unveiled hardware, but this year's event was focused on software with the sole hardware product being a new Pride Apple Watch band.

It's now been almost nine months since the AirPower was first introduced in September alongside the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Apple at the time said the device would be released in 2018, and while that launch date hasn't expired, many figured it would be coming earlier in 2018 rather than later.

The AirPower is a unique Qi-based wireless charging accessory that's able to charge an iPhone (X, 8 or 8 Plus), an Apple Watch, and the AirPods (with a new Wireless Charging Case) all at once.

It's not clear why Apple's work on the AirPower is taking so long, but it could be due to the combination of different charging technologies in the device. The Apple Watch Series 3, for example, does not charge over Qi, so Apple needs to merge several wireless charging formats.

We don't know when Apple plans on releasing the AirPower, but at this point, it could be held back until September, launching alongside the new 2018 iPhones. It's also possible, though, that we'll get a surprise press release sometime this summer.

As was predicted, WWDC 2018 was entirely devoid of hardware with the exception of a single new Apple Watch band. Apple announced no new Macs or iPads, despite the fact that most of its Mac and iPad lineup is due for an update. All of these updates could come in September with the new iPhones, or Apple could elect to do another Mac and iPad-focused summer or fall event.

Apple today updated its lineup of silicone iPhone cases and Apple Watch Sport Bands in three summer colors, including Peach, Marine Green, and Sky Blue.

The three new colors are available for both 38 and 42mm Apple Watch Sport Bands, with pricing the same as other Sport Bands ($49).

Apple has also released silicone cases for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus in the new colors, with the cases also suitable for the iPhone 7 lineup. The new silicone cases are priced at $39 for iPhone X, $39 for iPhone 8 Plus, and $39 for iPhone 8.

Apple has not provided leather iPhone cases in new colors, nor has the company introduced iPad cases in the new summer shades. There are also no other new watch bands, with the exception of the Pride watch band.

The Pride watch band is a new version of last year's Pride band, using Apple's Woven Nylon band in a series of rainbow colors. Apple has also introduced a matching watch face that's available today in watchOS 4. The Pride watch band is available for $49 and can be ordered starting today.

The new watchOS 5 update, which was introduced at the keynote event of the Worldwide Developers Conference this morning, will not be available on the first-generation Apple Watch models that were released three years ago in 2015.

There were some hints that support might be dropped for the original Apple Watch, including warnings in later watchOS 4 updates after Apple stopped supporting the watchOS 1 SDK.

watchOS 5 will be able to be installed on Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watch models, while original Apple Watch models will not be able to be upgraded beyond watchOS 4.

The original Apple Watch likely does not have the power and battery life necessary for some of the newer watchOS 5 features, including Walkie-Talkie for touch-to-talk communications with friends, richer interactive notifications, automatic workout detection, and updates to the Siri watch face.

Following today's WWDC keynote event that saw the introduction of iOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, Apple has seeded the first beta of the new tvOS 12 operating system to developers for testing purposes.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the new tvOS 12 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

tvOS 12 brings support for Dolby Atmos, a feature that Apple TV users have been wanting since the Apple TV 4K first launched. Starting this fall, iTunes will be home to the largest collection of Dolby Atmos-supported movies, and all purchased iTunes movies will be upgraded for free.

There are new aerial screensavers on Apple TV that were captured from the International Space Station.

Starting later this year, Apple is introducing a new Zero Sign-On feature for Charter Spectrum users that will let them watch live channels and on-demand programs when connected to their Charter Spectrum broadband with no need to sign in.

Charter Spectrum users are also going to be able to place their traditional cable boxes with the Apple TV through an upcoming Spectrum TV app. These features will come to other providers in the future.

Other tvOS 12 features include autofill passwords from the iPhone to sign into Apple TV apps more quickly, and support for Home Control systems like Crestron and Savant, which will be able to be used to control the Apple TV. Apple also plans to make the Apple TV Remote a default option in Control Center on iOS devices.

The tvOS 12 update is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers later this summer. tvOS 12 will see a fall launch alongside iOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5.

Apple this morning announced watchOS 5, a new version of the software that runs on the Apple Watch. The first developer beta of watchOS 5 has now been released to developers for testing purposes.

To install the beta, you'll need the proper configuration profile, which can be obtained through the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 5 beta can be downloaded using the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update.

To install the beta, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. It would be wise to install the beta on a secondary device instead of a primary device given that this is an early version of the watchOS 5 software that still has bugs to be worked out.

watchOS 5 is a huge update that brings Activity Competitions so you can compete on workouts with friends, Walkie-Talkie with push-to-talk functionality for quickly communicating with the people you talk to most, and auto workout detection to make it easier than ever to start and stop workouts.

Other new features include an improved Siri watch face with support for third-party apps, a dedicated Apple Podcasts app, new Workout types that include Yoga and Hiking, new features for runners, and enhanced notifications, which will make notifications on the Apple Watch interactive.

watchOS 5 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers (because there's no way to downgrade Apple Watch software), so non-developers will need to wait until the software is officially released in the fall to try it out.

Apple is bringing Student ID support to iOS 12 and watchOS 5, streamlining how students access everything on their college campus.

At supported schools, students will be able to add their Student ID to an iPhone or Apple Watch and gain access to everything from dorms and dining halls to gyms and libraries, along with campus events or attending class, making purchases from campus retail shops and bookstores, and paying for laundry and items from vending machines.

The program launches this fall with support from Duke University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma. Temple University, Johns Hopkins University, and Santa Clara University will add support by the end of the year.

Following the launch of a Pride Band for Apple Watch last summer, Apple today has revealed an all-new Pride Band for Apple Watch, which will be available to purchase today on Apple.com. The band has the colorful hues of the rainbow, with white stripes between each color.

In addition, users will be able to set a new Pride Apple Watch face on their devices at the end of the keynote.